Chaos

Chaos is a concept which appears in various games, including 40k, WFRP, WFB and the Fighting Fantasy books. It means more than simple disorder, and incorporates elements of the Lovecraftian concepts of evil cults and "things man was not meant to know" with a 1950s B-movie interpretation of nuclear radiation. There is even a material, warpstone, which is analogous to fissile material with regard to chaos.

Common features of Chaos include:

• Secrets that the ordinary man cannot be permitted to know.
• Knowledge that corrupts the bearer and leads him into the service of dark gods.
• Dark gods who capriciously reward and punish their followers.
• Daemons that may be summoned or escape from the Warp or the Realm of Chaos.
• Mutations both as a result of the radiation-like influence of chaos and as gifts from the chaos gods.
• Areas blighted by chaos (such as the Chaos Wastes or the Eye of Terror) and uninhabitable by right-thinking people.
• Roaming warbands or dark cults of chaos-worshipers.

Chaos as 40kfags know it was inspired by Moorcock's ideas about Law vs. Chaos from the Eternal Champion series. Radiation-like qualities are likely the result of the games in question having been written during the Cold War, with the paranoia that entails.

Gods of Chaos

Chaos Divided

In both the 40k and Warhammer Fantasy settings there are four chief Chaos deities, and a number of minor gods.

Khorne

God of Hate, Rage, Blood, War and Killing

Kharn the Betrayer, a popular character in /tg/ drawfaggotry, is a devout follower of Khorne.

Tzeentch

God of Change, Lies, Hope, Ambition, Manipulation, Scheming and Sorcery

Tzeentch is prone to utter the phrase "JUST AS PLANNED".

Nurgle

God of Decay, Despair, Destruction, and Disease

Also known as "Papa Nurgle" or "Grandfather Nurgle", the bloated lord of disease arose from man's fear of death. His followers are afflicted with various awful plagues, but do not suffer or die of them. As well as this respite, he offers those who worship him a sense of family and belonging which is incongruous with the usual attitudes of the chaos gods and his own fearsome appearance.

Slaanesh

God of Decadence, Excess, Pain, Pleasure and Self Indulgence

Slaanesh gave us Daemonettes.

Chaos cultist are KAP-TOORING the streets too.

Malal

A renegade Chaos God, representing the paradox of Chaos fighting against itself.

He is no longer mentioned in current background material.